A Warrnambool business owner has issued a heartfelt plea to the city council. "Give us some relief - anything," Bamboo Juice owner Sally Astbury said. She implored the city council to follow the lead of Corangamite Shire Council and offer businesses the chance to apply for cash grants to help them get back on their feet. "If a council the size of Corangamite can do it, why can't Warrnambool?," Ms Astbury said. "The Warrnambool City Council has to start showing some compassion and empathy to business owners. They just don't give a damn." Ms Astbury, who has owned the business for the past 16 years, said her takings were down 50 to 60 per cent in the past few months. She said demand for her products was higher in warmer weather. "We lost at least a month of really good trading weather," she said. Ms Astbury said the coronavirus was another blow to business owners in Warrnambool's CBD, who lost trade during the Liebig Street redevelopment works. She said she was also disappointed the council was planning to impose a rate increase. "It's really frustrating," Ms Astbury said. Daizy Boutique owner Maree Wills said her sales were down by 80 per cent in April and at least 50 per cent in May. She said businesses were struggling and the council should follow Corangamite Shire Council's lead. "It wouldn't go astray," she said. "There's a lot of small businesses that are struggling. "We had the street redevelopment for two-and-a-half years and now this." Taylor's Surf Odyssey owner Max Taylor said his business was hit hard by the coronavirus lockdown. "Easter was terrible," Mr Taylor said. "It was one of the worst trading periods we've had in 48 years." He said business was starting to pick up, but it was still quieter than usual. Warrnambool City Council chief executive Peter Schneider said its draft 2020-2021 budget identifies the provision of significant resources ($1.951 million) to be focused on recovery and stimulus efforts for the community and businesses. "A range of initiatives, one of which may be a business grants program, will be considered by Council as part of future stages of support for businesses adversely impacted by COVID-19," Mr Schneider said. Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.

She implored the city council to follow the lead of Corangamite Shire Council and offer businesses the chance to apply for cash grants to help them get back on their feet.

"If a council the size of Corangamite can do it, why can't Warrnambool?," Ms Astbury said.

"The Warrnambool City Council has to start showing some compassion and empathy to business owners. They just don't give a damn."

Ms Astbury, who has owned the business for the past 16 years, said her takings were down 50 to 60 per cent in the past few months.

She said demand for her products was higher in warmer weather.

"We lost at least a month of really good trading weather," she said.

Ms Astbury said the coronavirus was another blow to business owners in Warrnambool's CBD, who lost trade during the Liebig Street redevelopment works.

She said she was also disappointed the council was planning to impose a rate increase.

"It's really frustrating," Ms Astbury said.

Daizy Boutique owner Maree Wills said her sales were down by 80 per cent in April and at least 50 per cent in May.

She said businesses were struggling and the council should follow Corangamite Shire Council's lead.

"It wouldn't go astray," she said.

"There's a lot of small businesses that are struggling.

"We had the street redevelopment for two-and-a-half years and now this."

Taylor's Surf Odyssey owner Max Taylor said his business was hit hard by the coronavirus lockdown.

"Easter was terrible," Mr Taylor said.

"It was one of the worst trading periods we've had in 48 years."

He said business was starting to pick up, but it was still quieter than usual.

Warrnambool City Council chief executive Peter Schneider said its draft 2020-2021 budget identifies the provision of significant resources ($1.951 million) to be focused on recovery and stimulus efforts for the community and businesses.

"A range of initiatives, one of which may be a business grants program, will be considered by Council as part of future stages of support for businesses adversely impacted by COVID-19," Mr Schneider said.

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.